Device for cleaning tubes or the like



, Nov. 27,1928. 1 A. BRENDLIN DEVICE FOR CLEANING, TUBES on THE LIKE Fil e'd April 8, 1926 Z22.EEEEEE m F Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING TUBES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed April 8, 1926, Serial No. 100,517, and in Germany July 27, 1925.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning tubes, particularly condenser tubes. In contradistinction to known tube cleaners with adjustable helical springs for scraping the inner walls of the tubes according to the invention the ends of the helical springs are slidably guided by means of nuts, on a spindle pro lessens the risk of corrosion.

A tube cleaner according to the present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the cleaner in longitudinal elevation,

2 the same partially in section after the removal cit-the helical cage,

Figs. 3 and i are respectively a plan view and a side elevation of a retaining clip forming a part of the improved tube cleaner;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view and a side elevation of a nut adapted for cooperation with the clip shown in Figs. 3 and 4;;

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and a side elevation of a rotatable portion of the improved screw spindle shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a side elevation, a transverse section and a plan View of a nut adapted for cooperation with the 1'0- tatable member shown in Figs. 7 and 8; and

Fig. 12 is an inverted plan view of a lock nut forming a part of the improved cleaner.

The tube cleaner consists of one or more steel wire springs a helically wound and attached at their ends to nuts 6 and b to form a cage, the diameter of which is variable. The attachment is preferably effected by inserting the ends of the springs in the helical grooves 0 (Figs. 9-11) in the nuts band I) i and by bending their extremities to form hooks (Z (Fig. 1) which are also disposed in grooves in the nuts. The ends of the springs are held firmly on the nuts 6 and Z) by means of clips 6 (Fig. '2). In this way, the springs a, in combination with the terminal nuts I) and 6 form a spring cage capable of independent movement.

The said nuts I) and b are mounted on a spindle f, provided with one or more threads, preferably of steep pitch. At the forward end, the nut h and lock nut 2' (which also acts as a guide-head) are mounted on an extension 9 of the threaded spindle. If the tube cleanerto the rear end is of which can be screwed a length of tube to serve as ahandle-is pushed through a tube to be cleaned, the springs a scrape against the inside of the tube and exercise a cleaning action. The rear nut b bears against the. stop surface Z. If the resistance increases while the cleaner is being pushed through the pipe, the forward nut 1) turns on the screw spindle f and moves slightly towards the rear. Since the thread. of the helical springsa is in the opposite direction to that of the screw spindle f,'the springs are compressed as the result of the torsion set up by the increased resistance. The translational movement of nut b toward the rear tends to increase the diameter of the spring cage by bulging the springs a outwardly, but the relation of the pitch of the threads on spindle f to the pitch of the helices of the springs is such thatthe effect of the translational movement is. more than overcome by the rotation of nut Z), which winds the springs more closely about the spindle f and thus-reduces the diameter of the spring cage. Conversely, when the resistance decreases, the nut b is turned in the opposite direction so that the diameter of the spring cage increases. Hence the diameter adapts itself automatically to the resistance encountered in cleaning. The same effect is also produced whenv the: cleaner is drawn back, the rear nut 6 being turned and thereby causing the springs to contract to a greater or lesser degree according to the resistance encountered in cleaning.

During the cleaning operation, flushing water can be supplied through the tubular handle and the shank end is, said Water passing through bores m into an annular external groove n (Figs. 1 and 2) and thence issuing to flush the inner walls of the tube in a uniform manner.

The automatic variation of the diameter of the springs may be. assisted by hand, by imparting a slight right or left-handed twist to the tubular handle. Moreover, the diameter of the spring cage can be adjusted at'the outset, by twisting the front nut through 3. art

namely, a third, quarter, etc. of a turn i the spindle f is provided with multiple threads, according to the number of the threads.

Since, however, this method of" adjustment is complicated, it may be replaced by the folportion f, 'larged head 7",, against which abuts the nut 7b lowing arrangement:

The forward portion f, of the screw spindle f is mounted for rotation on the spindle 7 and is provided with an exterior steep-pitch thread with which the nut Z) engages. The

is further provided with an enwhich is threaded on the reduced portiong of the spindle, the members it and f being provided with openings 79 and g respectively (Figs. 5 and 7 for the reception of a tool or key forturning them either independently or together. It will be understod that by rotating the member f,, the member f which is integral with 7,, will also be rotated and,

owing to the steep-pitch thread connection of said member 7", with the nut b, the latter will be moved axiall alon the member i therep a by vary ng the'diameier oi the spring cage a.

Iii-this way, the tool can be set for cleaning tubes of widely different bore.

' ,After turning the part f, of the spindle, the front nut it is screwed up against the head f .unless it has been turned along with To retain the two members in their relative position, a clip 0 (Figs. 2 and 3) can he slipped over them, the lugs of which clip fit into the gaps p and g in such a manner as,

' to secure the members it and f, in their relatlVG position. The guide head 2' acts as a locked on said spindle and spaced from each other,

ing nut inthis case also.

ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be peiy formed, I declarethat what I claim is 1. A tube-cleaning device comprising a screw spindle, a pair of nuts rotatably threads ed'on said spindle and spaced from each other, a cage encircling said spindle and formed of a plurality of helical scraping members each having its opposite ends secured to said nut-s,

the direction of the helices of said scraping members being opposite to that of the threads of the screw spindle, so that thetorsion caused by pushing the device through the tube causes one of said nuts to move toward the other thereby decreasing the diameter of the cage as the resistance increases, and vice-verse.

2. A tube-cleaning device comprising av screw spindle, a pair of nuts rotatably threadaving now particularly described and a cage'encircling said spindleand for ed of a plurality of helical scraping members securedtosaid nuts and extending therebetween, the helices of said scraping members extending in a direction opposite to that of the tl reads of the screw spindle and having a greater pitch than that of said threads, so that friction of said scraping members against the walls of the tube causes oneot said nntsto move toward. the other thereby dccreasing thediameter of said cage.

3. A tube-cleaning device com rising a screw spindle, a pair or nuts i'otatably threaded on saidspindle in spaced relation, a cage encircling said spindle and formed of a pinrality ofhelical spring members secured to said nuts and extending therebetween, the helices of said spring members being opposed to the threads of the screw spindle l having a greater pitch than that of said threads, so that friction of said springment 'ainst'the walls of the tube causes one p oi id nuts to move toward the other there against the walls of the tube causes one of said nuts to move toward the other thereby decreasing the diameter of said cage.

5. A tube-cleaning device as specified in claim comprising infaddition means asso ciated with said spindle for conducting water to the region of said scrapingmembei's flushing the inner walls of the tube.

6.1K tube-cleaning'd vi-ce as specified "in claim 4, comprising in addition a lock-nut cneendot said cage, said lock-nut being shaped to form a guidehead. V

Intestimony whereof I have signed by name to this specificat on.

' ADOLF BnniiDLiN;

decreasing the diameter of said cage, said cage and nuts being removable as aunit froin' 

